Shane Lowry: "Golfers might not get visas due to COVID-19"

Open champion Lowry fears players will struggle to get to tournaments when golf returns to competition.

Mon, 30 Mar 2020

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Shane Lowry believes a number of the world's best golfers will struggle to travel to different parts of the world when golf returns after the coronavirus pandemic.

The reigning Open champion claims players from countries badly affected by COVID-19 may find it hard to get visas when the European Tour and PGA Tour get round to starting up their schedules again.

"The only issue I see with golf is that we all live in different countries," Lowry told Sky Sports.

"I think that’s the big issue. When you look at the Premier League they all live in England. So when England is ready to open up again you can start back the Premier League.

"That’s where golf, I think, differs. It will be interesting to see what restrictions are in place when we get playing.

"I’d just be fearful that players might not get visas if they’re from certain countries. We’ll just have to wait and see."

The Irishman is currently out in the United States where he rents a home, and he admits he was playing golf regularly up until last week at a local golf course until it closed down due to the coronavirus outbreak.

"I was playing up until then with one of my friends, just the two of us in a two-ball in two different golf karts every day," said Lowry.

"We’d play 18 holes and I never thought golf would be my getaway. I was just going out for a fun round to enjoy it. It was disappointing when the golf course was closed down, but it was kind of necessary.

"I watch the Irish news every day, I’m on my phone and keeping up to date with the whole thing. It’s not quite as bad here, but we don’t basically go outside the house."